Best Telescope for Astrophotography

Finding a great spot for your telescope is considered an ideal first step to perform astrophotography.

In a way, humanity’s fascination with outer space is largely brought about since it’s the least explored frontier.

As naturally inquisitive beings, we have an innate drive to explore new places and try new things. When you really think about it, these qualities are what makes us distinctly different from the rest of the primates.

Thankfully, our curiosity has extended over to the heavens and there are currently ambitious programs by the likes of SpaceX to someday colonize Mars. Dreamy as the concept may sound, it’s not a stretch to say that that’s just humans being humans. We love exploration and making grandiose plans for the future.

With technology being advanced in leaps and bounds through the years, we know much more about outer space than we ever did. In fact, you have a gander at various celestial objects without having to leave the comfort of your home.

In contemporary times, astrophotography is all the rage among space aficionados. Having explored most of what earth has to offer, it makes absolute sense that we would seek to satisfy our curiosity by looking out to the heavens for a glimpse of what lies out there.

With powerful telescopes, cameras, and lenses to guide steers us towards a state of “knowing”, the world is our oyster.

Not to be left behind with the developments, at AstroReality, we’ve also dreamt aplenty about the stars, moons, and planets in our solar system. We’ve amassed a wealth of knowledge through the years that has enabled us to interact with eager learners throughSTEAM projects and even conceptualized the design of planets in our solar system.

If you’d love to learn a trick or two about celestial bodies, you’re in good company. Here’s our review of the top 3 best telescopes for astrophotography.

Featuring an apochromatic refractor telescope, the Orion 9534 ED80T captures bright, crisp pictures. It’s one of the best telescopes for both kids and adults. You’re sure to have loads of fun staring out into the heavens on the telescope and capture the same awesomeness in full resolution without missing a beat.

As a portable telescope, the manufacturer ships it with a carrying case.

Here’s a look at some of the other features on offer:

Focal length of 480mm

Focal ratio of f/6

Lightweight optical tube of the scope thanks to a carbon fiber constitution

Dual-speed 2-inch Crayford focuser

FPL-53 ED glass

Perfect telescope to go camping with. This is because it has a collapsible dew shield which halts the formation of dew. This ensures that viewing and photography proceed unperturbed. At the same time, this trait also lowers the glare of external lights.

Recommendation

This is a solid telescope. You can use it to view the night sky or conduct sky photography. Because of its sturdiness, the Orion 9534 ED80T can comfortably support heavy cameras and other accessories. This can be quite convenient if you’re looking to go hard in the paint as you focus on astrophotography.

The presence of the apochromatic refractor lens endears this telescope to both novices and experts. Having mentioned all these great features, it’s clear that it’s one of the best telescopes for astrophotography. The great precision offered by the focuser further cements this telescope as a marvel of human invention.

Other awesome features include the presence of an aperture of 120 mm and a focal length of f/9, just the perfect conditions to conduct sky photography.

Other top features are:

A 2-inch Crayford focuser which enables you to quickly focus on objects in the night sky.

Aluminum casing that has a foam lining

Dew shield composed of heavy metal

The 120mm aperture facilitates the entry of more light to the telescope which translates to a crisp view of celestial objects. This attribute is just one of the many reasons why the Sky-Watcher ProED serves as one of the best telescopes for astrophotography.

Has doublet refractor lens which help lower chromatic aberrations.

Recommendation

While it’s not the most portable telescope in the market, it’s worth noting that set up isn’t too much of a hassle. You’re sure to enjoy using this telescope since it capable of reproducing textbook-like pictures in a matter of moments.

If you’re working on a budget, you can always opt for the 80mm or 100mm version of the doublet refractor. That said, it would be remiss if we didn’t point out that doing this usually has a ricochet effect in terms of image quality.

With a 70mm aperture and a focal ratio of f/5, the Meade Apo Refractor is a powerful telescope capable of letting in plenty of light in almost no time.

This telescope features 4 glass elements which are essential in doing away with chromatic aberrations.

Other top features include:

Comes with a DSLR camera adapter

Has a dual-speed rack and pinion focuser

To ensure fantastic accuracy, the telescope has millimeter markings

An aluminum case for safekeeping and portability

Easy framing thanks to the presence of a rotatable collar with a lockable screw

Has a sturdy build which means that it’s not easily affected by the wind

Great telescope to capture wide-field images thanks to the 350mm focal length at the scope

Recommendation

When it comes to sky photography, this telescope ticks all the right boxes. Built primarily for astrophotography, it’s not ideal for viewing the finer details of celestial objects.

Still, it’s the very best in its class if you’re thinking of conducting some wide-field sky photography.

Parting Shot

If you’re looking to gain insights on the workings of our solar system and how the planets go about their motion around the sun, check out the AstroReality planetary models that enable you to build your own solar system. It’s a bespoke solution for space enthusiasts looking to discover the secrets of the cosmos.